Makeup Artist Ashleigh Ciucci

In the business of beauty, no woman is an island. "I love the idea of collaborating with other creative people on a project," Ciucci says. "With the input of people in hairstyling, fashion styling, photography, art direction, and me doing makeup, we make something that has a piece of each of us." Ciucci started out at a department-store M.A.C. counter and, over the past nine years, has worked with Benefit, Nars, Victoria's Secret, CoverGirl, and Hard Candy, and created looks for editorial shoots and New York Fashion Week. In reviewing hundreds of products for the Allure Beauty Product Finder, her favorite items have been highly pigmented lipsticks and blushes as well as creams, foundations, and primers with high-tech formulas. "If your skin is perfect, all you need is a pop of color and you're good to go!"

Buy what you know. (That's the expression, right?) This year, I'm going to skip the scarves and wallets and stay in my wheelhouse: Everyone on my list is getting a beauty gift perfectly tailored to them.